Process and apparatus for mixing gases



F. A. STAMPS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING GASES.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1918. 1 ,378,429, Patented May 17, 1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F; A. STAM PS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING GASES.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 5, 1918.

1,378,429, Patented May 17, 1921.

2 SHEEISSHEET 2- A INVENTOR 3W2 (A flaw ATTORNEYS.

erases FREDERICK A. STAMPS, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO OLDBURY ELECTED-CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF HARRISON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1?, 1921.

Application filed February 5, 1918. Serial No. 215,562.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. STAMPS, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a resident of Niagara Falls, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement I in Processes and Apparatus for Mixing Gases, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to the mixing of two or more gaseous bodies or gases in predetermined relative amounts; and the object of the invention is to insure the maintenance of the proper proportions of the respective gases. In carrying out the invention with only two gases, one gas is delivered through an uncontrolled supply-pipe, while the other gas is delivered through a separate supply-pipe which is controlled, as by a valve; and any variation of the gas-flow through the uncontrolled pipe is caused to produce a corresponding variation of flow through the other pipe, as by acting upon its valve. In case three (or more) gases are to be mixed, there will be two (or more) separate operations, 6. g.- two of the gases will first be mixed in their proper proportions, and to this mixture the third gas (or a similarly-proportioned mixture of gases) will in like manner be added inthe predetermined proportion.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises, among other things, the process of delivering two gases in separate confined columns of flow, and causing the variation of pressure attending a variation of flow of one column to produce a corresponding variation of flow of the other column; and also the process of counter-balancing the gaspressures of the two separate confined columns, and causing a relative variation of such counter-pressures to maintain the predetermined. proportion of fiow of the two columns. The invention further comprises suitable mechanism for carryin out the foregoing operations. More specifically the invention comprises also the combination of two separate supply-pipes, a valve controlling one of them, a float-device acted upon by the gas-pressures in the two pipes, and. suitable means actuated by the relative movement of said float-device and thereupon operating said valve. The invention consists further of the various features hereinafter set forth and claimed,

The new process may be varied in its details,- and may be carried outby means of var ous different structures; but, for the sake of clearness, the annexed drawings show and the following specification sets forth, though merely by way of illustratlon, certain preferred physical embodiments of the new apparatus suitable for carrying out the new process. However, it will 'be understood that the same are merely illustrative of the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is nowise limited to the precise details hereinbelow set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, indicating diagrammatically one preferred apparatus or general arrangement of parts employed in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a vertical section through the preferred embodiment of the operative parts;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a preferred arrangement of connections for actuating the proportioning-valve;

-Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the proportioning-tank, showing certain modifications; and

Fig. 5 is a modified arrangement for actuating the valve. 1

.The two supply-pipes l and 2 lead separately from the independent sources of supply of their respective gases. One of these pipes, as 1, is provided with a suitable valve 3, hereinafter desi ated the proportioning-valve, being pre erably a valve 0perable through a considerable range from its entirely-closed to its fully-opened position. At their ends the two supply-pipes are shown as converging into a single discharge-outlet 4, to lead into a common receptacle, such as 5. But, if desired, the two pipes might of course have independent outlets, as indicated by dotted lines.

The proportioning-m hamism comprises the hermetically-inclose ank 6, located between the two supply-pipes and divided into two compartments by the vertical partition 7, tightly joined at the top and sides and extendin not quite to the floor of the tank.

Within t e tank is a body of suitable liqthe external upright shift-rod 10 (for actuating. the proportioning-valve 3, as hereinafter explained). This shift-rod is angularly ad ustable upon the rock-bar, but is clamped rigidly in the selected position of adjustment. A lever 11, located within the tank at right angles to this rock-shaft, is rigidly secured upon the middle of said shaft; and to each end of said lever is connected a float, -the float 12 being buoyed up b the liquid in one compartment, and the oat 13 being buoyed up in the other. Preferably, the two arms of said lever are of equal length, and the two floats of equal area and of equal inherent buoyancy, so that normally the two floats and their lever-arms are in horizontal equilibrium, while the upright shift-rod 10 will have been adjusted into true vertical position as its neutral position. Suitable pressure-communication is provided between each supply-pipe and its own tank-compartment. InFig. 2 this is shown as a small Pitot tube 14 leading from supply-pipe 1 into, the compartment containing float 12, and a similar Pitot tube 15 leading from supply-pipe 2 into the compartment of float 13, the inlet of each Pitot tube facing directly toward the oncoming current or column of gas in its p y-p p The operation of the foregoing parts is obvious: The parts are so proportioned as normally to permit the passage, through supply-pipe 1, of just the desired volume of its gas in proportion to the volume of the other gas normally passing through the other supply-pipe; and, if necessary, the shift-rod will then be adjusted upon the rock-shaft to occupy its neutral (preferably, vertical) position, and clamped in such adjustment. Thereafter, in case a relatively too-great (or a relatively too-small) volume of either gas starts to pass through its supply-pipe. (owing to variation of its pressure, or for other cause), thereupon the attendant variation of pressure is transmitted throu h the bore of its Pitot tube and ma'ni ests itself b displacing the horizontal equilibrium of swinging the shift-rod 10, which in turn actuates the proportioning-valve 3 (by any suitable connection, such as the mechanical or electrical devices hereinafter set forth), to vary the amount of flow ast that valve.

For instance, excess of ow of the gas through'supply-pipe 2, is attended at once by corresponding increase of pressure upon 1ts float 13, and (the opposing pressure upon the other float belng, as yet, unaltered) the equilibrium is destroyed and float 13 forced downward (float 12 1ising); this actuates the floats, thereby masses I the rock-bar and swings the shift-rod 10 t0 the right; and that movement in turn (through suitable connections) actuates proportioning-valve 3 in the. direction to open a larger passa 'e through its pipe 1, thus reintroducing the proper proportion of the gases, and at the same time restoring the equilibrium of the floats and returning the shift-rod to its neutral position. Vice versa too small a flow of the gas through said supply-pipe 2, results in a decrease of the pressure upon-its float 13, so that the as-yet unaltered pressure upon the other float 12 forces the latter down (lifting float 13); the shift-rod is'thereby swung to the left, and the proportioning-valve 3 is thereby actuated in the direction to reduce the flow of its gas,-thus again maintaining the 'it is preferable I to pass the two gases through a temperature equalizer before they reach the proportioning-device. As shown, this comprises a water-jacket 16, inclosing the juxtaposed portions of the two supplypi qes, each of which may here consist of a co1 It is also desirable to have an independent hand-aetuated valve for each supplypipe, for varying the total quantityv of flow through the supply-pipes, or to cause the total cessation of flow of either gas. Such hand-valves may be located either between the temperature-equalizer and the proportioning-device, as at 17, or in advance of both, as at 18.

Any suitable connection may be employed between shift-rod 10 and the proportioningvalve 3. But Figs. 2 and 3 show a preferred arrangement, comprising a horizonthepartition 7 and the rock-shaft 9, and supported at one end by being journaled in the upper end of the shift-rod 10, while its other end is connected, asby a universalcoupling 20,- to a suitable one-direction motor, as 21; and on said continually-rotating journal 19 is rigidly carried a driving-member, as cone 22. A horizontal shaft 23 is suitably supported to extend transversely of said driving-journal 19; and nearone end of said transverse shaft are secured two drivable members, as cones 24 and 25, one on eachside of said driving-cone, which they face; while the other end of said shaft 23 is connected to the screw-threaded stem of the proportioning-valve 3, as by a suitable train of reducing-gears conventionally indicated at 26. When in its neutral posiing shaft 23 in one direction or the other (according to the direction of the shift).

Thus, excess of flow through supply-pipe 2, depressing float 13, shifts the bar 10 to the right, bringing cone 22 into engagement with cone 25; and the motor 21 is rotating irr such 'direction as thereupon to rotate shaft 23 in such direction as to unscrew the stem of proportioning-valve 3,thereby opening a larger passage for the flow of gas through supply-pipe 1. And, on the other hand, a lessening of How of gas through pipe 2, by shifting bar 10 to the left, brings cone 22 into operative engagement with the other driving-cone, 24, -thereby rotating said shaft 23' in the opposite direction, thus screwing-down the valve-stem, and reducing the flow of the other gas (through pipe 1). Fig. 4 shows a modification, in which a compound expedient, consisting of a direct connection and a checking-device, is employed in place of the Pitot tube (a single expedient). That is to say; a simple tube 27 (27) leads at an angle from each supply-pipe to its own tank-compartment,

and farther on in the supply-pipe is located a choker or pressure-producin device, which preferably consists of a f compara tively thin) diaphragm as 28, having an aperture of carefully-predetermined area bear-' ing the desired proportion to the area of the aperture in the corresponding choker in ad Vance of the tube leadin from the other supply-pipe. Such restricted passageway through the pipe causes a back-pressure which is transmitted through the tube 27 (27) to act upon the float and the surface of the fluid in its compartment. However, if desired, the choking-device may consist of a short length of piping, as 29, fitted into the supply-pipe, and (as with the diaphragm) having the cross-sectional area of its bore carefully predetermined. But the length of the bore of such piping causes friction, which varies with the speed (and density) of the current of gas passing through, and thus introduces another variable factor. Therefore, the apertured diaphragm is preferable to the piping.

Although the specific princlple of backpressure (as utilized when-the simple tube and the choking-device are employed) may differ somewhat from the principle of impactressure (utilized when the Pitot tube alone is used), nevertheless the gencontacts with'one set of electrical terminals of a suitable reversible electric motor 31, and when shifted to the other side contacts with another set of terminals to reverse said motor. From the motor suitable connections, preferably with a slip-drive 32 interposed, serve to actuate the proportioning-valve, as through a worm and wormgear 33.

The invention has thus been described in detail, but only for the sake of clearness, since the new process is not limited to any particular form or arrangement of apparatus; and some of the mechanical parts disclosed may be employed to the exclusion of other parts, and certain parts may be transposed or inverted or otherwise modified, without in any case departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention having been thus fully described in detail, what is claimed is:

1. The process in mixing two gases, which comprises causing each of the gases to flow under pressure in a separate column of fixed cross-sectional area with a normal predetermined ratio between the velocities of flow of 'said gases in their respective columns, and

causing a departure from said predetermined ratio to vary the velocity of flow of one of said gases .and thereby restore the said normal ratio of flow.

2. The process in mixing two gases, which comprises causing each of the gases to flow under pressure in a separate column of fixed cross-sectional area with a normal predetermined ratio between the velocities of flow of said gases in their respective columns, and causing the flow of one of said gases to be governed by any change in the ratio of said velocities of flow, whereby a substantiallyconstant ratio of flow is maintained.

3. The process of. mixing two gases, which comprises causing each of the two gases to flow in a separate column of fixed crosssectional area, the pressures of the two gases having a predetermined normalratio, and bringing said pressures into opposition and thereby automatically controlling the flow of one of said gases in its column so as to maintain such substantially-constant ratio between said pressures.

tional area, the pressures of the two gases having a predetermined normal ratio and bringing said pressures into opposition, whereby upon the failure of said predetermined ratio the flow of one of said gases in its column is varied and said predetermined ratio of said pressures is restored.

5. The process, in mixing two gases, of maintaining the predetermined relative amounts of the gases, which consists of delivering the gases in separate confined columns of predetermined normal flow of the proper relative proportions, and causing the variation in pressure attending a variation in flow of one column to govern a source of power and thereby introduce a relay and thereby produce a proportionate variation in flow of the other column.

6. The process, in mixing two gases, of maintaining the predetermined relative amounts of the gases, which consists of delivering the gases in separate confined columns of predetermined normal flow of the proper relative proportions, and causing a variation of flow of one column to bring an external source of power into operation and thereby introduce a relay and thereby produce a proportionate variation of flow of the other column.

7. The process of mixing two gases, which consists of delivering one gas in a column of uncontrolled variability of flow, while delivering the other gas in a column of controllable flow, and causing a variation of flow of the first column to introduce a source of power and thereby introduce a relay and thereby proportionately vary the flow of thesecond column.

8. The process of mixing two gases in any desired proportions, which cons1sts of separately supplying the gases in any predetermined ratio of flow, and causing a variation of flow of one column to introduce a source of power and thereby correspondingly vary the flow of the other column so as to maintain the particular ratio seleoted,'whatever that ratio maybe.

' 9. An apparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined proportions, which comprises the combination of two separate dischargepipes, a valve controlling one of said pipes, an inclosed tank divided into two communicating compartments by a-vertical partition, a pressure-communication between each of said compartments and its own particular pipe aforesaid, a horizontal rock-shaft journaled in said tank beneath said partition, a

lever adjustably secured upon said shaft,

floats carried upon the ends of said lever and locatedseverally in said compartments, a body of liquid separating said-compartments from each other and buoying up said floats, and suitable connections between saidlever and said valve.

10. An apparatus for mixing two gases in V navasaa an inclosed tank divided into two communicating compartments by a vertical partition, a pressure-communication between each of said compartments and its own particular pipe aforesaid, a horizontal rock-shaft journaled in said tank beneath said partition, a lever secured upon said shaft, floats carried upon the ends, of said lever and located sevorally in said compartments, a body of liquid separating said compartments from each other and buoying up said floats, and suitable connections between said lever and said valve.

11. An apparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined proportion, which comprises the combination ofa dischargepipe, a valve controlling said. pipe and having a screw threaded actuation, a revoluble shaft havin operative connection with said valve and carrying two drivable members, a positivelyrotated and laterally-swingable journal lying transversely of said shaft and carrying a driving-member normally out of engagement with said drivable-members but mov able into engagement with either of them by the lateral swing of said journal, a separate discharge-pipe, and means actuated by variation of flow through said second'pipe to swing said journal.

12. An apparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined proportion, which comprises the combination of a discharge-pipe, a valve controlling said pipe, a second dischargepipe, an inclosed compartment partly filled with a body of liquid, a Pitot-tube connecting said second pipe and said compartment, a float buoyed up by said body of liquid, and

mechanism actuated by the rise and fall of said float to actuate said valve.

13. An apparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined pro ortion, which comprises the combination 0 two separate dischargepipes, a valve controlling one of said pipes, means for applying in opposition to each other the respective gas-pressures from said. pipes, means actuated by a relative variation of such counter-pressures, and means actuated by the last-named means and thereupon comprising a source of power actuating said valve.

14. Anapparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined proportion, which comprises the combination of two separate dischargeplpes, a valve controlling one of said pipes, two inclosed compartments each receiving the gas-pressure from its own pipe aforesaid, and a pressure-device comprising a source of pow-er subject to the action of said counter-pressures in said compartments and itself arranged to actuate said valve.

15. In an apparatus for mixing two gases in predetermined proportion, the combination of a plurality of separate fluid-circuits each adapted to deliver fluid in predeter mined volume, proportioning-mechanism responsive to varlations of flow in one of said circuits for maintaining a predetermined ratio between the respective flows in said circuits, and temperature-equalizing means adapted to maintain the fluids in said circuits at substantially-constant temperatures to avoid disproportional changes in the vol- 10 umes of the fluids delivered.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FREDERICK A. STAMPS. 

